Bōbiam

Just go. Read this review after you come back. Seriously. I’ll wait.
Thanks for coming back! Not that I have to tell YOU this, but Bobiam is located upstairs over Williams Bar in Uptown and well marked with a bold awning. The idea behind Bobiam is to showcase the minds and ideas of young artists. We had the good fortune of meeting Dialyn while we were in the store — the beautifully humble and adorable artist who had actually hand-​knitted the hat I was so eager to purchase and place on the head of our new niece. Her hats were inventive and amusing creations of exceptional quality, as were all of the products that we cooed over while perusing every square inch of the store.
There are gifts of all types and price points — from $ 8 jewelry to $ 50 hoodies. There are phone covers printed with custom art for some of the newer models, including iPhone and Samsung Galaxy. You can find clothes for babies, youth and adults, as well as canvas art, ear cuffs and sun hats.
A portion of the sale goes «back in to the power of creative expression» (not sure what that means), a portion goes to Free Arts Minnesota and a portion to the young artist. Mind you, only $ 1 goes back to the artist… an amount that irks me a bit considering some of their wares sporting their amazing creations can run upwards of $ 50…but at least it’s something.
The store is bright and airy and even the mural on the outside of the store was designed by one of their artists! You can’t help but be completely absorbed by the inspiration these kids exhibit. The owners are very passionate about their cause — at every turn in the store, Carla has information to provide about the artist, the process and the product. It’s an honor to purchase a work of art that supports the talent of these local kids and I’m excited to go back and see what else they have in store.